Finding Inspiration To Battle Illiteracy

(CBS)  Ayesha and Latisha Jones need to take a break in their own homework to help their dad.

Because at 52 years old, John Jones is just now learning to read, CBS News correspondent Seth Doane reports.

"I was so embarrassed, so ashamed, and I just felt like, man, I'm a nobody!" he said.

For many years, unable to read a menu or a bus schedule, Jones was just one of the estimated 65,000 adults in Buffalo, N.Y. who cannot read above a 5th-grade level.

And a new study shows the problem getting worse in many states.

California, New York and Florida have all shown dramatic increases in illiteracy rates.

The figures have improved in a few states, like Mississippi, Rhode Island and Kentucky. But worldwide, the United States doesn't stack up too well in general.

Fourteen countries rank higher in reading ability than the United States, including Finland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, South Korea, UK, Japan, Sweden, Iceland, Belgium, Austria, France and Norway.

Back in Buffalo, a program called Read to Succeed targets the problem early, teaching pre-schoolers shapes, colors and letters.

"We have a lot poverty and that means a lot of the children don't have the skills, but they have the potential," said Helene Kramer of Read to Succeed Buffalo.

The theory is: you're never too young or too old to learn. Working with Buffalo's literacy volunteers has given Jones a fresh start.

"They gave me a chance to open a door that I could never open before," he said. "Hallelujah - I could never open it before, because I couldn't read."

It's not easy, but Jones says seeing his daughters read inspired him to try.

[katrunyon]

I did not feel alone and could better understand my 13 year old son who is going through this right now. He hides everything from me. He can read some but has a problem with spelling. I struggle with the boy everyday because I know he wants to do better. We struggle with the school system and this resource program we are suppose to be in. We have meetings and discuss what we are going to do but I'm lucky if I can get half of it to happen. If anyone has any suggestions. I would love to hear them. I have always just wanted to have a scan done to see how my sons brain works so I could better help him. He wants to go to college and I want him to go. But how do I find the hope for that? I was very glad to see this segment on the morning show and believe there should be more emphasis on our children and reading.

[runningralph]

BarbaraM99, You are truly a sad case. But the ones that really failed you were your foster parents. No teacher can teach a blind child to read. Your foster parents should have put you in special school for blind children. I am 17 years older than you and I know the braille system existed at that time. Your foster parents should have made sure you got what you needed. And don''t blame Bush. He had nothing to do with Maine''s educational system at that time. What your school system did wrong was to let you graduate being unable to read.

[runningralph]

The educational level in the US is lower than in European and some Asian countries. Part of the reason is the US has a larger influx immigrants from less educated countries. Drugs are a big problem in schools, but I suspect that is a problem in other countries as well. Teen pregnancy is a big problem for girls because single parenthood has been glorified by entertainers and the media. In my day it was shamed and we had less of it. Now we have billboards on the highway telling girls where to go for help. That is not the way to get more education.

[barbaram99]

I got him beat I can''t read above 3 grade and I grad from high school in 74. I am legalley blind and 54. I have to ask my sighted friend to read things to me. I read simple books with a maginfier. I strated school at age 10. I could not write my name,read,spell,etc. Teacher had to place her paw over mine to show me how to print. I was the only blind pupil. From 6 to 10 I was barred from school.They did not allow muilt handicapped kids in school in my day. And when I did go I could not get what they were teaching. They did not want to teach a blind girl. They failed to educate. I was a foster child. Once they got me a large print reader. I had it 2 days. It was a boy whining about it say*I want a book like Barbara''s * So it was gone the next day. Over some whiney boy. The teacher was just as bad to have given in to him. I had teachers when I did go to school tell me to my face *I will not teach you*. I just sat in class. Years later my friend of 25 years. Bought me a computer in 06. He did so for one reason to show me they failed to educate me. It took 6 monthes. I was in tears partly I am pissed and hurt. bush has the galls to say no child left behind. This bs.I was left behind in my day. I am happy to say I did teach a blind man to write his name years ago. That he wanted so bad. I went to Maine schools. I am 54.